Setts



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. M. KENNEY & G. BULLOCK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 546,974. ljatented Sept. 24, 1895.

INVENT EIRS. Mk

WITNESSES- (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

' 'T. M. KENNEY & O. BULLOCK.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 546,974. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

, MAE s 6 WIT M55555.

UNliTED STATES PATENT Genres.

THOMAS M. KENNEY AND CHARLES BULLOCK, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHU- SETTS; SAID KENNEY ASSIGNOR TO SAID BULLOCK.

ROTARY-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 546,974, dated September 24, 189 5.

Application filed February 9, 1895. Serial No. 537,740- (No model.)

To all whom iv may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS M. KENNEY and CHARLES BULLOCK, residing in Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Rotary Engines or Motors, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a rotary engine or motor embodying novel principles and features of construction, as will be described.

The engine or motor referred to may be actuated by steam, hot air, gas, water, or other suitable medium or agent; but to facilitate description it will be hereinafter referred to as a steam-engine.

The engine or motor may be single or compound, and in the present instance I have chosen to illustrate it as a single engine or motor.

In accordance with this invention the engine comprises, essentially, a cylinder or casing provided with steam inlet and exhaust ports, a cylindrical roll preferably forming part of the main shaft of the engine and provided with longitudinal slots or openings substantially diametrically opposite and forming 3o guideways for movable wings or pistons, the

said roll being provided, preferably, on substantially diametrically-opposite sides with ports or passages on its periphery, for a purpose as will be described. The cylinder or roll practically constitutes the rotary valve of the engine, and is made of a less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder, so as to leave an annular space, which, in accordance with this invention, is partially 4o filled by means of a segmental sleeve, which fits steam-tight between the cylindrical roll and the interior of the cylinder and forms a solid abutment for substantially one-half of the piston-carrying roll during the rotation 5 of the said roll, the annular passage between the said roll and the cylinder or casing left vacant constituting a steam-space, which is divided, as will be described, into live and exhaust steam spaces during the rotation of thepiston-carrying roll. Thesegmentalsleeve referred to is preferably made independent of the cylindrical casing to facilitate construction; but it may be made an integral part thereof. The pistons or wings movable in the guideways or slots in the solid piston-carrying roll may be made in a manner as will be described, so as to obtain a steam-tight joint between the wings and their bearingsurfaces. These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rotary engine ormotor embodying this invention, the exhaust-pipe being shown in section; Fig. 2,

a side elevation of the engine shown in Fig. 1, looking toward the left; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section of the engine shown in Fig. l on the line 3 3, the rotary valve or piston-carrying roll being shown as having one port connected with the steam-inlet; Fig. 4., a longitudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, to more clearly show one form of piston or wing construction; and Fig. 5, a detail in plan view to more clearly show the piston-carrying roll.

In the embodiment of this invention herein shown the rotary engine or motor comprises a cylinder at, provided with the heads or ends a (1 which are detachably secured to the said cylinder, as by screws or bolts 0, The head a (see Fig. 4) on its inner surface,

as herein shown, is cut away, as at 5 6, to form an annular flange or projecting ring a, and,

as shown, is further cut away, as a117, to form a recess, for a purpose as will be described. The head 6L2, as herein shown, is also cutaway, as at 8 9, to form an annular flange a The heads a a are provided, as herein shown, with elongated hubs 10 12, through which extend the extensions 13 14 of the main shaft a of the engine, which, in accordance 0 with this invention, has secured to or forming part of it a solid cylindrical roll I), preferably of larger diameter than the main shaft, and herein represented as forming an integral part of the main shaft.

The enlargement or roll I) may be made of any suitable diameter less than the internal diameter of the cylinder (2, and. is concentri= cally supported within the cylinder by the hubs 10 12, so as to leave an annular space between it and the interior circumference of the cylinder at, a portion of which space is filled by means ofa segmental sleeve 1), (see Fig. 3,) having its outer circumference of a true bore with the interior circumference of the cylinder a, so as to fit steam and air tight therein, and having its interior circumference for a portion of its width made on a true circle with the circumference of the roll I), so that the said roll fits steam-tight against the inner periphery or surface of the said segmental sleeve.

\Ve prefer to make the segmental sleeve detachable from and independent of the cylinder or casing a and to secure the same rigidly within the cylinder a by suitable screws or threaded bolts inserted through the cylinder from the outside, and which are not herein shown; but we do not desire to limit our invention in this respect, as the said segmental sleeve may be made as an integral part of the casing or cylinder a. The segmental sleeve 1) has its inner periphery or surface made in a smaller arc of a circle than its outer circumference or surface, and the inner surface of the said sleeve at its opposite ends is connected with the extreme ends of its outer circumference by means of curved surfaces b N, (see Fig. 3,) constituting cam-surfaces, for a purpose as will be described. The sleeve Z) extends substantially the length of the cylinder or casing a and forms a solid abutment against the annular flanges a a on the heads a a when the latter are bolted or otherwise fastened to the casing or cylinder at.

The roll I) is provided with, preferably, two longitudinal slots b b, substantially diametrically opposite, as represented in Fig. 3, and in the present instance shown as extending but partially through the said roll, being separated by a solid portion or web 20, Figs. 3 and 4. The roll b, in the present construction, is represented as provided with two cylindrical holes 1) b extended through the roll and cutting the slots or guideways b, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The slots or guideways b L receive within them movable wings c preferably each made in two sections or parts 21 22, fitted together by means of a tongue 23 in the part 21, extending into a slot 24: in the part 22, the parts 21 22 being reduced in thickness at their tongued and slotted ends, so that when fitted together, as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, the complete wing will be of substantially uniform thickness, substantially equal to the width of the guiding-slot in which it moves or reciprocates. The slot 24 in the part 22 of the wing is made longer than the tongue 23, so as to afford a slight longitudinal play of the two parts comprising the wing to take up end wear upon the said wing, and thereby maintain a perfectly-tight joint between the wing and the annular flanges a a on the heads a a of the cylinder. This end play of the parts 21 22 of the wing may be effected by means of inclined or cam-shaped notches 30 31 in the parts 21 22, respectively, of each wing, the inclines 3O 81 of each wing extending in opposite directions, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The inclines 30 of the sections 2 22 of the wings a 0 have co-operating with them, as herein shown, the ends of a spiral spring 0 extended through a tube or cylindrical guide 0 having its opposite ends forked or slotted to straddle the parts 21 22 of the wings c c. The inclines 31 of the parts 22 21 of the wings a 0 have co-operating with them a spiral spring 0 extended through the tube or guide 0 having its opposite ends slotted or forked to straddle the parts 22 21 of the wings a c,

The guides or tubes 0 0 as herein shown, are made of a length substantially equal to the diameter of the roll I) and fit into the cylindrical openings 1) b (Shown in Fig. 5.)

The primary function of the springs c c in the present construction of the apparatus is to throw or move the wings c c outward against the inner periphery of the cylinderor casing a when permitted to do so in the revolution of the roll I).

In the present construction of the apparatus the longitudinal slots 5 b entend beyond the lower or inner surfaces of the annular flanges a a as represented in Fig. 5, and in order to avoid any possibility of the wings being caught and wedged in their slots or guideways b b, as by a tipping or tilting action of.

the wing, the annular flanges a a are cut away or inclined, so as to form cam-surfaces d d, whereby in the rotation of the roll I) the wing which is brought in contact with the cam-surfaces d d will on the continued rotation of the roll bin the direction indicated by arrow 40, Fig. 3, be compressed or moved longitudinally, so as to be carried up on to the flanges a a thereby obviating any derangement of the wings or pistons when the slots or guideways are carried beyondthc annular flanges a 0,

The cylinder 0, is provided with a steam-inlet orifice c, with which communicates a steaminlet pipe 6', which in practice is connected to a boiler or other suitable source of supply, and the segmental sleeve 1) is also provided with a hole or orifice e constituting a continuation of the steam-inlet c, the said hole or orifice e being extended through the segmental sleeve b and located adjacent to the inclined or cam-shaped end b leaving a solid portion 300 between the orifice c and the edge of the cam-surface 12 The roll I) is provided on its periphery with a depression, groove, or socket c located on one side of a diametrical line passingthrough the wings or pistons c c and separated therefrom by asolid portion of the roll, and with a like groove, depression, or socket e on the other side of the said wings or pistons and separated therefrom by a solid portion of the roll. The sockets or depressions c (2 form steam-passages in the roll I), and thereby transform the said roll into a rotary valve, and by which the inlet port or orifice e is connected with the space between the rotary valve 6 and the inner circumfer- IIO ence of the cylinder at, as will be described. The segmental sleeve 1), at its opposite end, is provided with a port or opening 6 extended through it and communicating with a port or opening a, leading to an exhaust-pipe 6 The operation of our improved engine may be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 3. As shown in said figure, steam is being admitted from the inlet-pipe 6 into the space 50 between the wing or piston c, the inclined surface of the segmental sleeve, and the roll I), and live steam is acting against the piston c to carry the latter and the said roll around in the direction indicated by the arrow 40. At the same time the space 51 on the opposite side of the wing or piston c is connected with the exhaust-passages e e". As a result, live steam is admitted into the space 50 until, in the revolution of the roll I) in the direction indicated by arrow 40, the point 52 of the roll arrives at the surface 300 of the segmental sleeve b, at which time the admission of steam into the space 50 is cut off and the rotation of the roll in the direction indicated by arrow 40 is continued by the expanding force of the steam in the chamber or space 50, which is gradually being enlarged by the rotary movement of the roll I), the space 5t being at such time filled with steam which has previously expended its force on the piston c and which, as represented, is exhausting through the port 6 being forced through the said port by the advance of the piston c. The live steam admitted into the space 50, as above described, continues to act until in the revolution of the roll I) the point 60 is brought past the inner edge of the cam 11 at which time live steam is again admitted through the passage or socket (2 into the space 50, formed in this instance by the piston or wing c with the cam-surface b and the roll Z).

It will be understood that when the supply of steam has been cut ofi from the space 50, as above described, and the roll is being rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 40 by the expanding action ofthe steam on the piston-as, for instance, the piston c-the pressure on the opposite side of the piston c is unbalanced, owing to the space 51 being connected with the exhaust 9 but any torsional strain or effect of the unbalancing of the unequal steam-pressures referred to upon the active piston is wholly or largely counteracted by the solid bearing afforded the rotating-roll by the segmental sleeve, which is substantially diametrically opposite the space in which the lower steam-pressure exists.

We have herein described one construction of wings or pistons with which to practice this invention; but we do not desire to limit ourselves to the precise mechanical construction shown, as other forms of wings or pistons may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention. Furthermore, We do not desire to limit our invention to the construction of roll shown, in which the slots b b are carried under the annular flanges a a on the heads a a as it may be found desirable to make the same flush with the said flanges. Furthermore, we do not desire to limit our invention to the use of independent pistons or wings operating by interposed Springs, as shown, as it may be found desirable to make the wings or pistons of snfficient length to extend entirely through the slots 11 b and employ a single wing or piston reciprocating diametrically through the pistoncarrying roll.

In the present construction of engine or motor we have relied upon the perfectly-true mechanical fit and proportion of parts to obtain steam-tight joints between the roll and the segmental sleeve 1); but we do not desire to limit our invention in this respect, as it may be found desirable to employ packingrings after the manner now common to rotary engines.

In order that the joint between the surface of the roll I) and the inner circumference of the segmental sleeve 1) and the joint between the segmental sleeve b and the inner circumference of the cylinder (1 may be maintained steam-tight when the engine is running at a high rate of speed, the combined thickness of the segmental sleeve and the cylinder is made substantially equal to one-half of the diameter of the roll, so that the parts will expand and contract uniformly and to the same extent under varying conditions of temperatu re. The main shaft a of the engine may be extended beyond the hub 12 and provided with a fly or balancing wheel f, as represented in Fig. 1.

The extension 13 of the main shaft in the construction of apparatus herein shown is provided with an enlargement or collar 160 adjacent to one end of the roll 2), which collar fits into the recess 7, as shown in Fig. 4, and serves to strengthen the extension 13.

The engine or motor may be made reversible by providing a separate inlet and exhaust, which are norn ally closed in any suitable manner.

For sake of illustration only we have represented this reversibility of the engine or motor by dotted lines in Fig. 3, wherein g represents the steaurinlet and g the exhaust and the dotted lines g g on the roll I) repre sent steam-spaces, which co-operate with the said reversing inlet and exhaust and correspond to the passages e e The engine may be lubricated in any suitable or desired manner, and in the present instance we have shown the cylinder at as provided with a tubular extension or cup 9 to hold oil, which passes through a port 9 in the cylinder (1, the said cup being shown as closed by a screw 9 The oil admitted into the cylinder diifuses itself over all the parts within the cylinder.

It will be noticed that the shaft of the rotary valve constitutes the main shaft of the engine. The groove or depression in the surface of the roll is separated from the adjacent piston or wing by a solid portion of the roll, which cooperates with the part 300 of the segmental sleeve and prevents steam passing from the said groove until the roll has revolved far enough to bring the piston or wing out against the inclined end of the segmental sleeve to form a closed space, whereby the steam is prevented from passing by the said piston.

IVe claim- 1. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination of the following instrumentalities,viz: a cylinder provided on its inner circumference with a segmental sleeve, an inlet passage or opening extended through said cylinder and segmental sleeve, a piston carrying roll located within the cylinder and embraced by or making contact with the segmental sleeve for the greater portion of its inner circumference, and provided with a depression or groove on its periphery forming with the inner circumference of the segmental sleeve a chamber or passage, and a radially moving piston carried by the said roll and located adjacent to the groove or depression to form with the said roll, cylinder and segmental sleeve a steam space, which for a portion of the revolution of the roll is directly connected to the steam inlet and then cut off therefrom by the said roll, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination of the following instrumentalities,viz: a cylinder provided withan inlet and an exhaust port or passage, a main shaft provided with an enlargement or roll within the said cylinder having diametrically opposite communicating slots or passageways, and provided with a groove or depression on its periphery, connected pistons or wings movable in said diametrically opposite slots or passageways, and a segmental sleeve within the cylinder having its inner circumference embracing or making contact with the roll and provided with cam-shaped ends to positively move one of said wings into its slot and to permit the other wing to be positively moved out of the diametrically opposite slot by the inward movement of the first mentioned piston or wing, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz:- a cylinder provided with an inlet and an outlet port or opening, a solid roll fitted concentrically within the cylinder and provided with diametrically opposite slots in communication with each other, and with a depression or groove 6 on its periphery, a wing or piston movable into and out of the said diametrical slots, a segmental sleeve in said cylinder between the cylinder and roll and provided with curved or cam-shaped ends co-operating with the pistons or wings to force one wing into its slot and to permit the wing in the opposite slot to be forced out of its slot by the movement of the first wing into its slot, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine or motor, the combination of the following instrumentalities, viz:- a cylinder provided with an inlet port or passage, a segmental sleeve provided with an inlet port or passage registering with the cylinder inlet, the said sleeve having cam-shaped or inclined ends, a roll in said cylinder provided with a radial slot or passageway and with a groove or depression on its periphery separated from the said slot by a solid portion of the roll, and a piston or wing movable in said radial slot or passageway, the solid portion of the roll between the said radial slot and groove or depression forming a cut-off for the steam inlet, whereby the admission of steam into the steam space of the cylinder is prevented until the piston or wing has been moved outward from its slot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

THOMAS M. KENNEY. CHARLES BULLOCK. Witnesses:

JAS. 1-1. CHURCHILL, J. MURPHY. 

